Big names in Democratic politics gathered Thursday morning at the funeral of renowned political consultant and former New York Deputy Mayor Bill Lynch to pay their last respects.

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attended and made separate remarks, praising the activist.

“He was a constant source of guidance … a trusted adviser,” said Hillary Clinton at the service at Riverside Church in New York City, according to the New York Daily News . “If you heard Bill Lynch’s voice once, you would remember it.”

David Dinkins, the city’s first black mayor, whose historic wins against incumbent Ed Koch in the Democratic primary and then against Republican candidate Rudy Giuliani in the general election are largely credited to Lynch. Dinkins also bade an emotional farewell, the paper reported.

Also in attendance were Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and the current Democratic mayoral candidates. President Barack Obama sent his respects with Executive Director Patrick Gaspard of the Democratic National Committee, the paper reported.

Lynch, famously known as the “rumpled genius,” died last Friday at the age of 72 due to complications from kidney disease.